Above:  Icon of a Right Hand

Image in the Public Domain

German Text (1867) by Julie von Hausmann (1826-1901)

English Translation (1912) by Rudolph A. John (1859-1938)

Hymn Source = The Hymnal (1941), Evangelical and Reformed Church

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Take Thou my hand and lead me

Unto the end;

In life and death I need Thee,

O blessed Friend;

I cannot live without Thee

For one brief day;

Lord, be Thou ever near me,

And lead the way.

+++++

Thou mighty God of ages,

O be Thou near;

When angry tempest rages

I need not fear;

Close by Thy side abiding

I fear no foe,

While Thy strong hand is guiding

Life hath no foe.

+++++

When evening’s shadows lengthen,

The night is come,

My faint heart, Father, strengthen

And bring me home.

Take Thou my hand and lead me

Unto the end,

In life and death I need Thee,

O blessed Friend!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Above:  World Map, 1570

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1864) by George Thomas Coster (1835-1912)

Hymn Source = The Pilgrim Hymnal (1904)

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From north and south and east and west,

When shall the peoples, long unblest,

All find their everlasting rest,

O Christ, in thee?

+++++++++++

When shall the climes of ageless snow

Be with the gospel light aglow,

And all men their Redeemer know,

O Christ, in thee?

+++++++++++

When on each southern balmy coast,

Shall ransomed men, in countless host,

Rise, heart and voice, to make sweet boast,

O Christ, in thee?

+++++++++++

O when in all the Orient lands,

From cities white and flaming sands,

Shall men lift dedicated hands,

O Christ, to thee?

+++++++++++

O when shall heathen darkness roll

Away in light, from pole to pole,

And endless day by every soul

Be found in thee?

+++++++++++

Bring, Lord, the long-predicted hour,

The ages’ diadem and flower,

When all shall find their refuge, tower,

And home in thee!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Above:  The New Jerusalem and the River of Life

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1897) by George Thomas Coster (1835-1912)

Hymn Source = The Methodist Hymnal (1935)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

King of the City Splendid,

Eternal in the height,

May all our country’s cities

Grow holy in Thy sight;

Cleansed from the deeds of darkness–

Cities of light.

+++++++

Teach love to gladden children

That know not childhood’s mirth,

Wronged of their rights–no beauty

In their scant reach of earth;

To hope’s large sunshine give them

A second birth.

+++++++

Give joy to all the joyless,

Song’s voice to sorrow’s dumb,

May light invade with blessing

Each dark and deathly slum;

Into earth’s realms of horror

Thy kingdom come!

+++++++

Soon may our country’s cities

Thy robe of glory wear;

Each place of toil a temple,

Each house a home of prayer;

Each city’s name of beauty–

The Lord is there!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Above:  Christ Pantocrator

Scan by Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Text (1893) by Somerset Corry Lowry (1855-1932)

Hymn Source = The Church Hymnary–Revised Edition (1927), Presbyterian

This hymn, originally entitled “For Unity,” debuted in the February 1894 issue of Goodwill then graced The Christian Social Union Hymnbook (1895).

Lowry wrote more than 60 hymns, but this text has become the most popular and enduring one.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Son of God, eternal Saviour,

Source of life and truth and grace,

Son of Man, whose birth incarnate

Hallows all our human race;

Thou, our Head, who, throned in glory,

For Thine own dost ever plead,

Fill us with Thy love and pity,

Heal our wrongs and help our need.

+++++

As Thou, Lord, hast lived for others,

So may we for others live;

Freely have Thy gifts been granted,

Freely may Thy servants give.

Thine the gold and Thine the silver,

Thine the wealth of land and sea,

We but stewards of Thy bounty,

Held in solemn trust for Thee.

+++++

Come, O Christ, and reign among us,

King of love, and Prince of peace;

Hush the storm of strife and passion,

Bid its cruel discords cease.

Ah, the past is dark behind us,

Strewn with wrecks and stained with blood;

But before us gleams the vision

Of the coming brotherhood.

+++++

See the Christlike host advancing,

High and lowly, great and small,

Linked in bonds of common service

For the common Lord of all.

Thou who prayedst, Thou who willest

That Thy people should be one,

Grant, O grant our hope’s fruition:

Here on earth Thy will be done.

Above:  Landscape with the Parable of the Sower, by Pieter Brueghel the Elder

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1897) by Washington Gladden (1836-1918)

Hymn Source = The Pilgrim Hymnal (1904), National Council of Congregational Churches in the United States

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Behold a Sower!  from afar

He goeth forth with might;

The rolling years his furrows are,

His seed the growing light;

For all the just his word is sown,

It springeth up alway;

The tender blade is hope’s dawn,

The harvest, love’s new day.

+++++

O Lord of life, to thee we lift

Our hearts in praise for those,

Thy prophets, who have shown thy gift

Of grace that ever grows,

Of truth that spreads from shore to shore,

Of wisdom’s widening ray,

Of light that shineth more and more

Unto thy perfect day.

+++++

Shine forth, O Light, that we may see,

With hearts all unafraid,

The meaning and the mystery

Of things that thou hast made:

Shine forth, and let the darkling past

Beneath thy beam grow bright;

Shine forth, and touch the future vast

With thine untroubled light.

+++++

Light up thy Word; the fettered page

From killing bondage free;

Light up our way; lead forth this age

In love’s large liberty!

O Light of light!  within us dwell,

Through us thy radiance pour,

That word and life thy truths may tell,

And praise thee evermore.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Above:  Donations for Decatur Emergency Assistance Ministry, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Decatur, Georgia, June 11, 2017

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Text (1812) by James Montgomery (1771-1854)

Hymn Source = Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum) (1923), Moravian Church in America

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jesus, our best beloved Friend,

Draw out our souls in pure desire;

Jesus, in love to us descend,

Baptize us with Thy Spirit’s fire.

+++++

On Thy redeeming Name we call,

Poor and unworthy though we be;

Pardon and sanctify us all;

Let each Thy full salvation see.

+++++

Our souls and bodies we resign,

To fear and follow Thy commands;

O take our hearts, our hearts are Thine,

Accept the service of our hands.

+++++

Firm, faithful, watching unto prayer;

May we Thy blessed will obey;

Toil in Thy vineyard here, and bear

The heat and burden of the day.

+++++

Yet, Lord, for us a resting-place

In heaven, at Thy right hand prepare;

And till we see Thee face to face,

Be all or conversation there.

Above:  St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Milledgeville, Georgia, May 7, 2017

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Text (1833) by James Montgomery (1771-1854)

Hymn Source = Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (1969), Moravian Church in America

++++++++++++++++++++++

God is in His holy temple;

All the earth keep silence here!

Worship Him in truth and spirit,

Reverence Him with godly fear!

Holy, holy,

Lord of hosts, our Lord, appear.

+++++

God in Christ reveals His presence,

Throned upon the mercy-seat;

Saints, rejoice; and sinners, tremble;

Each prepare his God to meet;

Lowly, lowly,

Bow adoring at His feet.

+++++

Hail Him here with songs of praises;

Him with prayers of faith surround;

Hearken to His glorious Gospel,

While the preacher’s lips expound;

Blessed, blessed,

They who know the joyful sound!

+++++

Though the heaven and heaven of heavens,

O Thou Great Unsearchable,

Are too mean to comprehend Thee,

Thou with man art pleased to dwell;

Welcome, welcome,

God with us, Immanuel!

Above:  All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Georgia, May 14, 2017

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Text by James Montgomery (1771-1854)

Hymn Source = Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum) (1923), Moravian Church in America

+++++++++++++++++++++

Command Thy blessing from above,

O God, on all assembled here;

Behold us with a Father’s love,

While we look up with filial fear.

+++++

Command Thy blessing, Jesus, Lord,

May we Thy true disciples be,

Speak to each heart Thy mighty word:

Say to the weakest, Follow Me.

+++++

Command Thy blessing in this hour,

Spirit of truth, and fill this place

With wounding and with healing power,

With quickening and confirming grace.

Above:  World Map, 1570

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1836) by James Montgomery (1771-1854)

Hymn Source = Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum) (1923), Moravian Church in America

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Send out Thy light and truth, O God,

With sound of trumpet from above;

Break not the nations with Thy rod,

But draw them as with cords of love;

Justice and mercy meet,

The work is well begun;

Through every clime their feet,

Who bring salvation, run;

In earth as heaven, Thy will be done.

+++++

Before Thee every idol,fall,

Tend the false prophet’s vail of lies;

The fullness of the Gentiles call;

Be Israel saved, let Jacob rise;

Thy Kingdom come indeed,

Thy Church with union bless,

All Scripture be her creed,

And every tongue confess

One Lord,–the Lord our Righteousness.

+++++

Now, for the travail of His soul,

Messiah’s peaceful reign advance;

From sun to sun, from pole to pole,

He claims His pledged inheritance;

O Thou Most Mighty, gird

Thy sword upon Thy thigh,

That two-edged sword, Thy Word,

By which Thy foes shall die,–

By which Thy foes shall die,–

Then spring, new-born, beneath Thine eye.

+++++

So perish all Thine enemies!

Their enmity alone be slain;

Them in the arms of mercy seize,

Breathe, and their souls shall come again:

So may Thy friends at length,

Oft smitten, oft laid low,

Forth, like the sun in strength,

Conquering, to conquer go,–

Till to Thy throne all nations flow.

Above:  The Reverend Cynthia C. Knapp, New Rector of Christ Episcopal Church, Macon, Georgia, January 18, 2017

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Text (1833) by James Montgomery (1771-1854)

Hymn Source = Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum) (1923), Moravian Church in America

A hymn for the ordination or installation of a minister

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Pour out Thy Spirit from on high;

Lord, Thine ordained servants bless,

Graces and gifts to each supply,

And clothe them with Thy righteousness.

+++++

Within Thy temple where they stand,

To teach the truth, as taught by Thee,

Saviour!  like stars in Thy right hand,

The angels of the churches be.

+++++

Wisdom, and zeal, and faith impart,

Firmness, with meekness from above,

To bear Thy people on their heart,

And love the souls whom Thou dost love;

+++++

To watch and pray, and never faint,

By day and night strict guard to keep,

To warn the sinner, cheer the saint,

Nourish Thy lambs and feed Thy sheep.

+++++

Then when their work is finished here,

In humble hope their charge resign;

When the Chief Shepherd shall appear,

O God!  may they and we be Thine.